What Does Tanning Oil Do? How It Works & Why Peptides Are Changing Tanning Oil

August 27, 2026|Gold Coast Tanning Editorial Team

Burleigh Bronze brings modern skincare ingredients into the tanning-oil category.

Tanning oil has been part of Australian beach culture for decades. Traditionally, these formulas have focused on conditioning the skin, improving glide and creating the glossy, sun-kissed finish many people associate with a day spent outdoors.

But tanning oil is changing.

Modern formulas are beginning to borrow ingredients more commonly associated with premium skincare — including peptides, hyaluronic acid, squalane, panthenol and antioxidants. Instead of thinking only about how skin looks while tanning, this new generation of products is putting greater emphasis on how the skin is hydrated and conditioned at the same time.

If you're comparing products available locally, start with our Tanning Oil Australia (2026): Benefits, Ingredients, Brands & How to Choose guide. It takes a broader look at tanning oils in Australia, including ingredients, different types of formulas and what to consider before choosing one.

And if you've ever wondered whether you can skip tanning oil altogether and simply reach for coconut oil, we've also taken a closer look in Tanning With Coconut Oil: Is It Still the Best Choice in Australia?

So, what does tanning oil actually do? Does tanning oil make you tan faster? And what happens when ingredients such as peptides are added to the formula?

That's where tanning oil starts becoming much more interesting.

Products such as Burleigh Bronze by Goldy Glow represent a move toward a more skincare-focused approach — combining the ritual of a tanning product with ingredients selected to hydrate, condition and support the appearance of the skin.

In this guide, we'll break down how tanning oil works, its potential benefits, what it can't do, what to look for in a modern formula, and why peptides are beginning to appear in a new generation of tanning products.

What Does Tanning Oil Actually Do?

Tanning oil is a topical body product designed to condition the skin, improve glide and create a smooth, radiant finish. Depending on the formula, it may contain oils, emollients, humectants, botanical extracts, antioxidants, vitamins and other skincare ingredients.

But not every tanning oil works in the same way.

Traditional tanning oils are often built around plant oils or other emollients that help soften the skin and create the glossy appearance associated with tanning. Modern formulas can be considerably more sophisticated, combining these conditioning ingredients with hydrating and skincare-focused actives.

Some tanning products may also contain cosmetic bronzers, self-tanning ingredients or SPF, so it's important to look at the individual formula rather than assuming every product labelled "tanning oil" does the same thing.

One common misconception is that simply applying oil automatically makes your skin produce more melanin. Melanin production is a biological process within the skin, and putting a basic oil on the surface doesn't inherently switch that process on.

This is why the ingredients inside a tanning product matter.

A modern formula can be designed to do more for the feel and appearance of the skin while you're following your tanning routine. Ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid can support hydration, squalane and jojoba oil can condition and soften the skin, while peptides can provide additional cosmetic skin-conditioning benefits.

That skincare-first approach is what separates newer formulas such as Burleigh Bronze from the simple tanning oils traditionally associated with the category.

Quick answer

Tanning oil can help:

Condition and soften the skin
Support skin hydration, depending on the formula
Create a smoother, more radiant appearance
Deliver additional skincare ingredients
Reduce the dry or tight feel associated with some outdoor routines

However, tanning oil without adequate SPF does not protect your skin from UV radiation and should never be treated as a substitute for sunscreen.

Traditional tanning oil vs modern tanning oil: newer skincare-led formulas can combine hydration, conditioning ingredients, peptides and antioxidants alongside the traditional tanning-oil experience.

How Does Tanning Oil Work?

Tanning oil works primarily at the surface of the skin. Its exact effect depends on the ingredients used, which is why two tanning oils can feel — and perform — very differently.

Traditional formulas rely heavily on oils and emollients. These ingredients spread across the skin to create a smoother surface, reduce moisture loss and give the body the glossy finish commonly associated with tanning products.

Modern tanning formulas can take this further by combining emollients with humectants, peptides, vitamins and other skincare ingredients.

Humectants such as glycerin, sodium hyaluronate and panthenol help attract and retain moisture, while emollients such as squalane, jojoba seed oil and shea butter help soften and condition the skin.

This combination is important because hydration and oil are not quite the same thing.

An oil can help reduce moisture loss and soften the skin, while humectants help attract water to the skin. A well-designed formula can use both approaches to leave skin feeling smoother, softer and more hydrated.

What about tanning itself?

Your natural tan develops when specialised cells called melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment responsible for colour in the skin.

UV radiation can stimulate this process, but that doesn't mean a basic tanning oil automatically increases melanin production simply because it is applied to the skin.

This distinction is important.

The role of a modern tanning product can extend beyond the tanning process itself by focusing on the condition, hydration and appearance of the skin.

And this is where skincare-led formulations start to separate themselves from traditional tanning oils.

Burleigh Bronze, for example, combines familiar conditioning ingredients such as squalane, jojoba and shea butter with glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, antioxidants and a three-peptide complex.

Rather than relying on oil alone, the formula takes a layered approach to body care.

In simple terms

Traditional tanning oil:
Oil + emollients → softer skin + glossy finish

Skincare-led tanning formula:
Humectants + emollients + peptides + antioxidants → hydration + conditioning + skincare benefits

The result is a different philosophy: don't just think about the colour you're trying to achieve — think about the skin underneath it.

Important:

A tanning oil or skincare-focused tanning product does not make UV exposure safe. Products without adequate SPF should not be used as a replacement for broad-spectrum sunscreen, protective clothing, shade and other sun-protection measures.

Burleigh Bronze peptide tanning oil with peptides, hyaluronic acid, squalane, panthenol and vitamins C and E

Inside Burleigh Bronze: a skincare-led tanning formula featuring peptides, hyaluronic acid, squalane, panthenol and antioxidant vitamins C and E.

Does Tanning Oil Make You Tan Faster?

This is one of the most common questions about tanning oil — and the answer is more complicated than simply yes or no.

A natural tan develops when UV radiation stimulates melanocytes in the skin to produce melanin. Melanin is the pigment responsible for the colour of your skin, hair and eyes, and increased melanin production is what causes skin to become darker following UV exposure.

Tanning oil itself does not automatically make your body produce more melanin simply because it has been applied to the skin.

What matters is what is actually inside the formula.

Why are some products called tanning accelerators?

Some tanning products contain ingredients specifically selected for tanning-focused formulations rather than relying solely on traditional oils.

One ingredient you may see is tyrosine or a tyrosine derivative.

Tyrosine is an amino acid involved in the body's natural pathway for producing melanin. This has led to tyrosine-derived ingredients being incorporated into some cosmetic tanning products.

For example, Burleigh Bronze contains Acetyl Tyrosine alongside its hydrating, conditioning and peptide ingredients.

However, the presence of Acetyl Tyrosine should not be interpreted as proof that a finished tanning product will make someone tan faster. The performance of a cosmetic formula depends on factors including the ingredient concentration, formulation and individual skin characteristics.

Your natural tanning response matters too

How quickly someone develops colour can vary considerably.

Factors include:

Natural skin tone and skin type
Genetics
Existing melanin levels
Previous UV exposure
Individual tanning response
The products being used

This is why two people following exactly the same tanning routine may develop colour at very different rates.

Hydration meets tanning with hyaluronic acid, glycerin and panthenol for hydrated conditioned skin

Hydration meets tanning: hyaluronic acid, glycerin and panthenol help attract and retain moisture while supporting softer, smoother, hydrated-looking skin.

Does more UV mean a better tan?

No.

Increasing UV exposure in an attempt to tan faster also increases exposure to UV radiation, which can cause sunburn, premature skin ageing and increase the risk of skin cancer.

A tanning oil without adequate SPF does not make prolonged sun exposure safe.

The better way to think about modern tanning products is therefore not simply:

“How quickly will this make me darker?”

but:

“What am I putting on my skin while following my tanning routine?”

That question is one of the reasons ingredients such as peptides, hyaluronic acid, squalane, panthenol and antioxidants are becoming increasingly interesting in the tanning category.

And that brings us to the biggest difference between a traditional tanning oil and a skincare-first formula:

What Are the Benefits of Tanning Oil?

The benefits of tanning oil depend heavily on the formula.

A traditional tanning oil may primarily focus on softening the skin and creating a glossy finish, while newer formulas can incorporate ingredients designed to hydrate, condition and support the overall appearance of the skin.

This is one of the biggest changes happening in the tanning category. Instead of treating tanning and body skincare as completely separate routines, modern formulations can bring the two together.

1. Helps Condition and Soften the Skin

Oils and emollients help create a smoother skin surface and reduce moisture loss.

Ingredients such as squalane, jojoba seed oil and shea butter are commonly used in skincare because of their emollient properties. They help skin feel softer, smoother and more conditioned.

Burleigh Bronze incorporates all three, giving the formula a broader skincare profile than a basic tanning oil built primarily around a single oil.

2. Supports Skin Hydration

One of the biggest differences between hydrating the skin and simply applying oil is the type of ingredients involved.

Humectants attract and retain water at the skin's surface.

Burleigh Bronze contains several:

Glycerin helps attract moisture to the skin.

Sodium Hyaluronate, a form of hyaluronic acid, helps support surface hydration and a plumper-looking appearance.

Panthenol, also known as provitamin B5, acts as a humectant and skin-conditioning ingredient.

Combined with emollients such as squalane and jojoba, this creates a more complete approach to maintaining soft, hydrated-feeling skin.

3. Creates a Smooth, Radiant Finish

There's also a much simpler reason people love tanning oils: the finish.

Emollient-rich formulas can give the body an immediate smooth, luminous appearance and enhance the look of naturally tanned skin.

Well-conditioned skin can also appear more even and radiant than skin that feels dry or flaky.

4. Can Deliver Skincare Ingredients Across the Body

This is where modern tanning products become particularly interesting.

If you're already applying a product across your arms, legs and body as part of your tanning routine, that formula can also become an opportunity to deliver ingredients normally associated with skincare.

Burleigh Bronze combines its conditioning base with:

Three cosmetic peptides
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5

alongside Vitamin C, Vitamin E, aloe, hydrolysed rice protein and other skin-conditioning ingredients.

The goal isn't simply to make skin look glossy for a few hours. It's to approach the tanning routine more like body skincare.

5. Helps Turn Tanning Into a Skincare Ritual

For years, facial skincare has evolved around increasingly sophisticated formulas containing peptides, antioxidants, humectants and barrier-supporting ingredients.

Body products are now beginning to follow the same philosophy.

Instead of asking only:

“What will help me tan?”

there's another question worth asking:

“What am I putting on my skin while I tan?”

That idea sits at the centre of the skincare-first approach behind Burleigh Bronze.

The formula combines the sensory experience people expect from a premium tanning product with ingredients selected for hydration, conditioning and cosmetic skin support.

And one group of ingredients deserves a much closer look.

What Do Peptides Do in a Tanning Oil?

Peptides have become a major part of modern skincare, appearing in everything from premium face serums to moisturisers and body treatments.

But “peptides” isn't one single ingredient.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids, and different peptides are used in cosmetic formulas for different purposes. That's why looking at the specific peptides inside a tanning product is much more useful than simply seeing “contains peptides” on the label.

Burleigh Bronze contains a three-peptide complex:

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5

Together, they bring a skincare-focused element to a category traditionally dominated by basic oils and emollients.

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 — Smooth + Support

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is a signal peptide commonly found in anti-ageing and skin-conditioning formulations.

It is used in skincare products designed to support the appearance of smoother, firmer and more resilient-looking skin.

Rather than being included to create colour, its role in Burleigh Bronze is part of the formula's broader focus on the appearance and condition of the skin itself.

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 — Condition + Care

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 is another cosmetic peptide commonly used in formulas targeting the visible signs of skin ageing.

It is frequently paired with Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 in sophisticated peptide skincare systems.

Together, these peptides are commonly incorporated into products designed to support smoother, healthier-looking skin and improve its overall appearance.

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5 — Hydrate + Smooth

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5 takes the peptide complex in another direction.

It is commonly used in cosmetic formulations focused on hydration and the appearance of smoother-looking skin.

In Burleigh Bronze, it complements other hydration-focused ingredients including glycerin, sodium hyaluronate and panthenol.

Why Put These Peptides in Burleigh Bronze?

Because tanning products are applied to a large area of skin.

Traditionally, tanning oils have concentrated almost entirely on the tanning experience — oil, fragrance, slip and shine.

Burleigh Bronze was developed around a different idea:

Why shouldn't your tanning routine also be part of your body-skincare routine?

Its peptide complex sits alongside hyaluronic acid, squalane, jojoba seed oil, shea butter, panthenol, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and botanical extracts.

That gives the formula several layers:

PEPTIDES
Skin-conditioning support

HYDRATION
Hyaluronic Acid + Glycerin + Panthenol

CONDITIONING
Squalane + Jojoba + Shea Butter

ANTIOXIDANTS
Vitamin C + Vitamin E

Instead of thinking about tanning oil as simply something that makes the skin shiny, Burleigh Bronze approaches it as a skincare-first body formula designed to complement a tanning routine.

Burleigh Bronze tanning oil with skincare-focused ingredients

Burleigh Bronze combines conditioning oils, humectants, vitamins, botanical extracts and cosmetic peptides in one skincare-led formula.

The Bigger Idea: Tanning Meets Skincare

The skin on your body is still skin.

We routinely look for peptides, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and conditioning ingredients in the products we apply to our faces. There's no reason body care can't receive the same level of attention.

That's the thinking behind a new generation of tanning formulas.

Tan differently. Care for the skin underneath it.

Burleigh Bronze peptide tanning oil ingredient infographic

What’s inside Burleigh Bronze? A skincare-first tanning formula combining peptides, hydration, conditioning ingredients, vitamins and botanicals to support soft, smooth and radiant-looking skin.

Is Tanning Oil Bad for Your Skin?

Tanning oil itself isn't automatically “good” or “bad” for your skin. What matters is what's in the formula, how you're using it and, importantly, how you're protecting your skin from UV radiation.

A well-formulated tanning product can contain ingredients that hydrate and condition the skin. Burleigh Bronze, for example, combines glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, squalane, jojoba seed oil, shea butter and peptides as part of its skincare-first formulation.

But there's an important distinction:

Skincare ingredients don't make UV exposure harmless.

The Bigger Risk Is UV Exposure

When you're tanning outdoors, your skin is being exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

Too much UV exposure can cause sunburn, premature skin ageing, pigmentation changes and an increased risk of skin cancer. Australia's UV levels make sun protection particularly important.

A beautiful tanning oil — even one packed with skincare ingredients — doesn't remove those risks.

And unless a tanning product has an approved SPF rating, it should not be treated as sunscreen.

Burleigh Bronze peptide tanning oil with skincare ingredients for hydrated and conditioned skin

Burleigh Bronze: a skincare-first tanning formula combining peptides, hyaluronic acid, squalane and conditioning ingredients for soft, hydrated and radiant-looking skin.

Does Tanning Oil Protect You From the Sun?

Not necessarily.

The word “oil” doesn't tell you anything about the level of UV protection a product provides.

Some tanning products are specifically formulated and tested with SPF. Others aren't.

If a product doesn't carry an appropriate SPF rating, don't assume the oils, antioxidants, peptides or botanical ingredients inside it provide meaningful sun protection.

This is also why we'd avoid describing Burleigh Bronze as providing UV protection unless the finished product has undergone the appropriate SPF testing.

Skincare and Sun Protection Have Different Jobs

A useful way to think about it is:

BURLEIGH BRONZE
Hydrate → Condition → Peptides → Radiance

SUN PROTECTION
SPF → Shade → Clothing → Responsible UV exposure

They're two different parts of looking after your skin.

Burleigh Bronze's skincare ingredients are there to support the feel, hydration and appearance of the skin. They don't replace appropriate sun protection.

Can You Use Tanning Oil With Sunscreen?

Yes — tanning oil and sunscreen can be used as part of the same body-care routine, but they perform very different jobs.

A tanning oil or skincare-led tanning formula is designed primarily around the feel, hydration, conditioning and appearance of the skin. Sunscreen, on the other hand, is specifically formulated and tested to help protect skin from UV radiation.

One should never be treated as a replacement for the other.

Sunscreen Comes First

When spending time outdoors, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen according to the directions on its label and give it the recommended time to settle before applying other body products.

Avoid mixing tanning oil directly into sunscreen in your hand. Doing so can interfere with the sunscreen film you're relying on for protection.

If you're swimming, sweating or towelling off, sunscreen also needs to be reapplied according to its directions.

What About Burleigh Bronze?

Burleigh Bronze is best thought of as the skincare component of your tanning routine.

Its formula contains ingredients including:

Peptides for cosmetic skin conditioning
Hyaluronic acid + glycerin for hydration
Squalane + jojoba + shea butter for softness and conditioning
Panthenol for additional hydration and skin conditioning
Vitamin C + Vitamin E for antioxidant support

But unless a product carries a tested and approved SPF rating, don't assume it provides sun protection.

That's an important distinction when choosing any tanning product — particularly in Australia, where UV levels can be extremely high.

A Better Way to Think About Your Routine

PROTECT
Broad-spectrum sunscreen + shade + protective clothing

HYDRATE
Hyaluronic acid + glycerin + panthenol

CONDITION
Squalane + jojoba + shea butter

CARE
Peptides + antioxidants

Modern tanning doesn't need to be about choosing between tanning products and skincare.

The two can exist in the same routine — as long as sun protection remains a separate priority.

Burleigh Bronze peptide tanning oil and Solis Serum copper peptide serum by Goldy Glow

Tanning meets skincare: Burleigh Bronze peptide tanning oil paired with Solis Serum, a copper peptide serum designed to bring skincare-focused ingredients into your tanning routine.

Tanning Oil vs Coconut Oil: What’s the Difference?

Coconut oil has been associated with tanning for generations. Its rich texture, tropical scent and ability to leave skin looking glossy have made it a beach-bag staple — particularly in Australia.

But coconut oil and a modern tanning oil aren't necessarily the same thing.

Pure coconut oil is primarily an emollient. It helps soften the skin and reduce moisture loss, but on its own it doesn't provide the broader combination of humectants, peptides, antioxidants and specialised skincare ingredients that can be built into a modern tanning formula.

Burleigh Bronze peptide tanning oil ingredients including squalane, jojoba oil, hyaluronic acid, vitamins C and E, peptides and shea butter

Premium ingredients meet tanning: Burleigh Bronze combines hydrating, conditioning and skincare-focused ingredients including squalane, jojoba oil, hyaluronic acid, cosmetic peptides, shea butter and vitamins C and E.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil can help:

Soften and condition the skin
Reduce moisture loss
Create a glossy appearance
Provide a simple, traditional oil-based tanning experience

What it doesn't give you is a complete skincare system.

Modern Tanning Oil

Modern tanning formulas can take that traditional idea considerably further.

Rather than relying on one oil, they can combine different types of ingredients that each perform a specific cosmetic role.

Burleigh Bronze, for example, brings together:

HYDRATION
Glycerin + Sodium Hyaluronate + Panthenol

CONDITIONING
Squalane + Jojoba Seed Oil + Shea Butter

PEPTIDES
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 + Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 + Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5

ANTIOXIDANTS
Vitamin C + Vitamin E

BOTANICALS
Including Aloe Vera and additional plant extracts

So while coconut oil focuses predominantly on oil-based conditioning, a skincare-led tanning formula can approach the skin from several directions at once.

Does Coconut Oil Help You Tan?

Coconut oil itself shouldn't be considered a proven tanning accelerator simply because it is an oil.

More importantly, pure coconut oil is not a substitute for broad-spectrum sunscreen.

Using coconut oil alone while deliberately exposing your skin to UV radiation can leave your skin inadequately protected.

We've gone much deeper into this topic in our Tanning With Coconut Oil: Is It Still the Best Choice in Australia? guide, including how coconut oil works on the skin and what you should consider before using it as part of an outdoor tanning routine.

So Which Is Better?

It depends on what you want from the product.

If you simply want a traditional body oil, coconut oil offers straightforward emollient conditioning.

But if you're looking for something that combines the tanning ritual with hydration, peptides, antioxidants and more advanced body-care ingredients, that's where the new generation of skincare-led tanning formulas becomes much more interesting.

Coconut oil represents where tanning oil came from.

Peptide-powered body care gives us a glimpse of where it's going.

What Should You Look for in a Modern Tanning Oil?

Not all tanning oils are formulated the same way.

Some are relatively simple blends designed primarily to give the skin slip and shine. Others combine traditional conditioning ingredients with humectants, peptides, antioxidants and botanical extracts.

So rather than choosing a tanning oil based on packaging or fragrance alone, it's worth turning the bottle around and looking at what's actually inside.

1. Look for Hydrating Ingredients

Hydration is particularly important when your skin is regularly exposed to the outdoors.

Look for humectants such as:

Glycerin
Hyaluronic Acid / Sodium
Hyaluronate
Panthenol

These ingredients help attract and retain moisture at the skin's surface, helping it feel softer and more hydrated.

Burleigh Bronze contains all three.

2. Look for Quality Skin-Conditioning Ingredients

Next are the ingredients that help soften the skin and reduce moisture loss.

Burleigh Bronze combines:

Squalane
Jojoba Seed Oil
Shea Butter

Rather than relying on a single traditional oil, these ingredients create a more rounded body-care formula.

3. Look Beyond the Word “Peptides”

Seeing “peptides” on the front of a bottle doesn't tell you very much unless you know which peptides are actually being used.

Burleigh Bronze contains three:

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5

Each has a different cosmetic role, with the combination designed around skin conditioning, hydration and smoother-looking skin.

That's why we prefer to talk about the actual peptide complex rather than simply putting peptide-powered on the bottle and leaving it there.

4. Look for Antioxidants

Antioxidants are another way modern tanning products can borrow from skincare.

Burleigh Bronze contains both a Vitamin C derivative and Vitamin E, alongside botanical ingredients.

These ingredients are widely incorporated into cosmetic skincare formulas for their antioxidant and skin-conditioning properties.

They don't replace sunscreen, but they add another skincare dimension to the formula.

5. Consider How the Product Feels

Ingredients matter, but so does the experience of actually using the product.

A body product needs to be something you'll want to apply.

Look for a formula that spreads easily, leaves the skin feeling conditioned and works naturally within the rest of your body-care routine.

Heavy doesn't necessarily mean more effective — and a sophisticated formula doesn't need to leave your skin feeling excessively greasy.

6. Check the SPF Status

This is particularly important in Australia.

Don't assume a tanning product provides sun protection simply because it's designed for outdoor use.

If you're relying on a product for UV protection, look for an appropriate tested SPF claim on the label and follow its directions.

A tanning product without an appropriate SPF claim should not be treated as sunscreen.

What Does Acetyl Tyrosine Do in Tanning Products?

Burleigh Bronze was developed around a simple idea:

What if your tanning product cared about your skin as much as your tan?

Instead of building the formula around oil alone, Burleigh Bronze brings together three cosmetic peptides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol, squalane, jojoba seed oil, shea butter, Vitamins C and E, aloe and botanical extracts.

The result is a skincare-first approach to tanning body care.

PEPTIDES

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5

HYDRATION

Hyaluronic Acid
Glycerin
Panthenol

CONDITIONING

Squalane
Jojoba Seed Oil
Shea Butter

ANTIOXIDANTS + BOTANICALS

Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Aloe + Botanical Extracts

It's not about pretending tanning oil is skincare's replacement.

It's about asking why the product you apply across your body can't benefit from the same ingredient-led thinking we've come to expect from premium facial skincare.

Tanning has evolved. The formula in your bottle should too.

Burleigh Bronze tanning oil ingredients including squalane, jojoba oil, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, vitamins C and E and acetyl tyrosine

Inside the Burleigh Bronze formula: a blend of hydrating and conditioning ingredients including squalane, jojoba seed oil, shea butter, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, hydrolysed rice protein, vitamins C and E, acetyl tyrosine and botanical extracts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tanning Oil

Tanning oil is designed to condition the skin and create a smooth, radiant finish. Depending on the formula, it may also contain hydrating ingredients, emollients, antioxidants, peptides and other skincare ingredients. Tanning oils vary considerably, so the ingredient list is important.

Traditional tanning oils work mainly at the surface of the skin by using oils and emollients to soften and condition it. More advanced formulas can also contain humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, alongside peptides, vitamins and other cosmetic skincare ingredients.

A basic tanning oil doesn't automatically increase melanin production simply because it's applied to the skin. Natural tanning occurs when UV exposure stimulates melanin production. Some tanning-focused formulas contain additional ingredients such as tyrosine derivatives, but their presence alone doesn't prove that a finished product will make someone tan faster.

Peptide tanning oil is a tanning-focused body product that incorporates cosmetic peptides into its formulation. These peptides can be included for skincare benefits such as conditioning, hydration and supporting smoother-looking skin, depending on the specific peptides used.

Burleigh Bronze contains Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 and Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5.

The three-peptide complex is incorporated as part of the formula's skincare-first approach, alongside hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol, squalane, jojoba seed oil, shea butter and antioxidant ingredients.

The formula and the UV exposure are separate considerations. A tanning oil can contain ingredients that hydrate and condition the skin, but this doesn't eliminate the risks associated with UV radiation. Excessive UV exposure can cause sunburn, premature skin ageing and increase skin-cancer risk.

Only rely on a product for sun protection when it carries an appropriate tested SPF claim and is used according to its directions. A tanning oil without adequate SPF should not be considered a substitute for sunscreen.

They can form different parts of a body-care routine, but avoid mixing tanning oil directly into sunscreen. Apply sunscreen according to its label and reapply it as directed, particularly after swimming, sweating or towelling.

Coconut oil can soften and condition the skin, but pure coconut oil shouldn't be relied upon as sunscreen. Modern tanning formulas can also provide a broader range of cosmetic ingredients than coconut oil alone, including humectants, peptides and antioxidants.

For a deeper comparison, read our Tanning With Coconut Oil: Is It Still the Best Choice in Australia? guide.

Traditional tanning oils generally focus on emollient oils, skin conditioning and shine. A peptide tanning formula adds cosmetic peptides and may also contain skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, panthenol, squalane and antioxidants.

Look beyond fragrance and packaging. Consider the hydrating ingredients, emollients, skincare actives, antioxidants, texture, complete ingredient list and SPF status.

If skincare is important to you, formulas combining humectants, quality emollients and clearly identified peptides provide a more ingredient-focused approach than a simple oil blend.

No. Burleigh Bronze should not be treated as sunscreen unless the finished product carries an appropriate tested and approved SPF claim. Appropriate sun protection should remain a separate part of your outdoor routine.